Catching up with former IBF world featherweight champion Troy Dorsey

Tough Texan Troy Dorsey, (also a renowned world champion kick boxer) would box 30 times as a pro, not staggering numbers, and sport a pedestrian 15-11-4 record. However, a closer look at the former world champions resume shows an amazing run as a professional.

In his 30 fights, he fought 12 world champions, 2 world title challengers, including a draw with world champions Tom Johnson and Jorge Paez, beat world champion Bernard Pinango, had a split decision loss to Paez, fought undefeated, future world champion Johnson to a SD loss in only his 5th bout as a pro, knocked out undefeated, Philly tough guy Anthony Boyle, and beat world champion Jimmi Bredahl. To say the final numbers don’t tell the story of this rugged brawler’s career would be a huge understatement.

While not gifted with slick footwork or lightening reflexes, he was gifted with an iron will, steely determination and a resolve to fight the very best he could each time he stepped in the ring.

Troy Dorsey was talented, unbelievably tough, and left boxing with a record he should look back on with pride.

MaxBoxing had a chance to catch up with Dorsey from his home in Midland, Texas.

Bill Tibbs: Hi Troy, glad we finally connected. Looking forward to chatting with you.

Troy Dorsey: Bill, thank you for being patient. I am so sorry. We missed each other on our calls a few times. I’m happy we connected.

BT: Did you fight as an amateur (boxer) and did you always plan to go pro one day? Or were you mostly focused on kick boxing. I admit I don’t follow the sport, but I know you are a very accomplished kick boxer.

TD: I had 5 amateur bouts. I was 4-1. I have won 5 world titles as a kick boxer. No, I really didn’t think about going pro. I was training at Dave Gorman’s Super Pro’s Gym, in Fort Worth, Texas, which is about 20 miles from where I live, and all these guys were training for boxing there. I saw how much money they were making, and I thought ‘I should go pro and make some better money to support my family’. I didn’t go into to it just for the money, but I thought I might as well make the best money I can.

BT: Dave Gorman’s Gym was quite the place. They turned out some great fighters. Welterweight champions Gene Hatcher and of course the great Donald Curry, Stevie Cruz who pulled off the huge upset to beat Barry McGuigan, Rockin’ Robin Blake, and yourself. What a stable. Do you keep in touch with those guys?

TD: I was speaking to Gene (Hatcher) this morning, we keep in touch and speak 5 or 6 times a year. He has a bad back that gives him some problems but otherwise he is doing well. Stevie Cruz is doing well, working, and he is good as far as I know.

BT: That was such a huge upset when he beat Barry McGuigan in Vegas to win the title. I still remember that fight.

TD: Yes, it was. I was his sparring partner for the fight.

BT: How are Blake and Curry doing?

TD: Robin is a retired police officer and is doing well as far as I know. Donald, I haven’t spoken to him in a bit. I tried to call him recently, but his number has changed. I have heard he is having some difficulties.

BT: You turn pro in ’85 and in your 5th fight you go against future world champion, undefeated Tom Johnson in his hometown and lose a split decision. Not exactly soft matchmaking. Was that your plan to box the best guys you could, always. Not worry about wins, losses, just fight the best. Was that your mentality?

TD: Well, you know I feel I really won that fight. I went into his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and boxed him there and I really thought I won. But, I fought him again in 1990 in Texas and we fought to a draw and I thought he won that fight. So, it all worked out even in the end, (chuckles). Of course, I always wanted to win every fight. But, yes, I really wanted to fight the best guys I could because my goal was to always win a world title and to do that I had to fight the best guys out there. My goal was always to win a world title and hold on to the title and defend it. That was always my goal.

BT: Well, you won your world title in your next fight, so it all worked out.

TD: Yes, that was great. Just to go back to the Johnson fight for a second. I think in the second fight with Johnson, it was tough for me because I had already fought for a world title with Jorge Paez and I thought I won that fight and I lost a split decision. Then, I fight him 2 fights later and I get a draw. It was very frustrating. So, by the time I get to the 2nd Johnson fight, I had already fought for a world title 2 times, and thought I had won, so I think the Johnson fight was a bit of a letdown and I wasn’t as mentally focused for the fight as I should have been. I was looking at it as nothing compared to the world title fights which was a mistake.

BT: What was the biggest win in your career?

TD: Winning the world title was my biggest win for sure. I had that as my goal right from the start and winning the world title was the fulfilment of my dream and my goal right from the beginning. Every boxer wants to win a world title so beating Alfred Rangel and winning the IBF world featherweight title was a thrill. Sadly, Alfred died several years back. He became a pastor after he retired. He’s in heaven, so he’s in a great place now, a better place than we are.

BT: After you won the title, the run you go on is incredible. Right up to the end of you career, it is just one champion after another - Manuel Medina, Kevin Kelley, Eddie Hopson, Jesse James Leija, Calvin Grove, Oscar De La Hoya, Jesus Chavez, Gabriel Ruelas, the list is incredible. That was an amazing roster of boxers you faced.

TD: Yeah, I did face a lot of good fighters. But, like I said, the goal was always to win a world title and to do that I felt you just faced the best fighters you could to hopefully get to a title shot.

BT: Who was the toughest boxer you ever faced?

TD: I don’t know if I could say one stands out more than another to me. I fought a lot of tough fighters. Every fighter can be difficult in their own way, so it is hard to say that one seemed tougher than another.

BT: I guess I should say what was your toughest fight?

TD: I fought Jesse James Leija in San Antonio, in 1992, and that was the toughest fight of my career. I was so busted up, badly cut, 5 bad cuts, my eye was swollen and hurting me so much. My eye was hurt bad and cut up and I got hit right on it and at one point I had to take a knee. That was probably my toughest fight of my career.

BT: Do you watch boxing today?

TD: Not much. I’d rather spend my money on my grandkids than PPV. (Laughs). After I retired, you know I couldn’t watch it at all. It was just too hard for me. I just missed it so much. It hurt me to watch it.

BT: What have you been doing after boxing?

TD: We recently celebrated 40 years of my Karate School, Troy Dorsey’s Karate and Fitness. That is a long time, I have been blessed to get to run my gym for all these years, do something I love for all these years.

BT: You are married, with children?

TD: Yes, I have been married 35 years, and have 2 daughters and have been blessed with 2 grandchildren, one of each, a boy, and a girl.

BT: Troy, I enjoyed following your career and it is one you should be very proud of. You really had an amazing run as a pro. Thanks for your time and all the best to you and your family during the coming Christmas season.

TD: Thanks so much Bill. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. God bless you.